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Confident Futures is an e-mentoring project aimed at supporting children in care and care leavers to fully engage in society via education, employment or training and a smooth transition from care placement to independent living.

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Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Other Other
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)

    Situation

    Children in care are one of the most vulnerable groups in society. Research has shown that children in care are ten times more likely to be excluded than the general population, and less than half of care leavers end up in education, training or employment compared to 86% of all 19 year olds (Social Exclusion Report, 2003). Recent research has indicated that young people in care would value the support of a mentor, in particular, someone in their lives who “is not paid to be there” (A National Voice, 2007). During this pilot, mentees (young people in care and care leavers between the ages of 14 and 18) are matched with volunteer mentors who have been interviewed, CRB checked and trained prior to matching. Mentoring pairs take part in secure interactive conversations, supported by online resource library content designed to stimulate discussion and support young people in setting goals for the future. These features are further supported by a programme of activities from which mentors can select tasks relevant to the individual needs of their mentee. Activity topics include: Goal-setting, CV writing and interviews, raising confidence and self-esteem, education routes and homework support. £123,000 funding for this project has been secured.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Community Support & Development Community Support & Development
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Other Other
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)